Travel advice can save you money or keep you out of jail

Pick up a rock and land in jail for two nights? Sounds outrageous, but that's what happened to 16-year-old Madelaine Gierc on her spring break trip to Greece.

The rock? A piece of marble on the Acropolis.

The 11th-grader from Vancouver Island in British Columbia was near the Parthenon on a nine-day school tour of Greece. She picked up the rock to hold as a prop in a photo but had no intention of taking it anywhere, she said. Moments later, she was arrested and hauled off to an Athens jail for two nights.

The charge, theft of historical treasures, can bring a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. She was released, rejoined her school group and was allowed to return to North America. Her trial is pending in Greece.

"There are a lot of things travelers do that are major faux pas, and some of them are even illegal, especially when it comes to photography and tourist sights," said Stuart Robinson, editor of "Let's Go: 2005." It's important that people traveling overseas for the first time understand that they are governed by the laws of the country they are visiting, even if they don't know the laws.

"It's usually a very bad idea to take pictures of any military equipment or soldiers, especially in Eastern Europe," Robinson said. "That can definitely land you some time in jail. Also, dressing modestly in religious sites is something that a lot of travelers neglect to consider."

"Let's Go: Europe," which started as a 20-page pamphlet, has been dispensing such counsel for 46 years. The 2005 edition has more than 1,000 pages of information and maps designed to help independent budget travelers get the most for their money in 38 countries, including Britain, Ireland, Russia and Morocco.

Of particular help to first-timers are itineraries suggesting what to do in a particular country if they are there for two days or two weeks.

New to this edition are several themed itineraries. An ultimate pub crawl takes the reader through the most popular bars and clubs in Europe. Another tour is designed around big music festival dates.

"We also added some individual country itineraries," Robinson said. "For example, in the Spain chapter we have a bullfighting tour, and [we] do the same thing with works of art in Italy."

What are the hot destinations? Hungary and the Czech Republic are giving way to Poland and Croatia, the "Let's Go" writers said. "The new EU states are going to be really popular in a few years," Robinson said.

Travelers seem more interested in immersing themselves in one culture than in skipping through multiple countries. Teaching English, particularly in Eastern Europe, continues to be a popular way to finance this type of travel.

"We've also noticed a greater trend toward people wanting to travel with more of a purpose," Robinson said, "such as looking for volunteer opportunities."

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Lucy Izon is a Toronto-based freelance writer and author of "Izon's Backpacker Journal."